Automatic stop for cards



June 29, 1965 a. B. BLOMQUIST, JR 3,191,236

AUTOMATIC STOP FOR CARDS Filed Aug. 23, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. '92 B. .B/omgu is! Jr.

1 l8 MfM HH-om. e ys June 29, 1965 G. B. Bl olvlqulsT, JR

AUTOMATIC STOP FOR CARDS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 23, 1961 INVEN TOR. George B/amg u/sf W, MYLWW Hffor/Leys June 1965 G. a. BLOMQUIST, JR 3,191,236

AUTOMATIC STOP FOR CARDS Filed Aug. 23', 19814 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. eorge B. B/omguisf Jr.

h, M f'Jimyw Hffor-neys United States Patent 3,191,236 AUTOMATIC STOP FUR CARDS George B. Blomquist, .lr., Columbus, Ga., assignor to Swift Spinning Mills, Inc., a corporation of Georgia Filed Aug. 23, 1961, Ser. No. 133,495 20 Claims. (Cl. 19-.25)

This invention relates to an automatic stop for cards and more particularly to apparatus for stopping the card feed and delivery means upon interruption of the running of its sliver and when heavy or light places occur in the sliver produced by the card.

An object of my invention is to provide an automatic stop for a card whereby the card feed and delivery means is stopped immediately upon breakage of the sliver, there by preventing the fibers from going around with the doifer and choking the main cylinder to thus damage the card clothing on the dotfer and the main cylinder.

Another object of my invention is to provide an automatic stop for carding apparatus of the character designated which reduces waste of material and reprocessing of material to a minimum due to the fact that the feeding and delivery units of the card cease to operate immediately upon interruption of the sliver as it passes from the calender rolls to the coiler rolls.

Another object of my invention is to provide automatic stop mechanism for a card in which there is a minimum of moving parts and there are no bearing surfaces which move continuously while the card is in operation, thereby eliminating the necessity of additional oiling and prolonging the life of the apparatus.

A further object of my invention is to provide stop mechanism for carding apparatus of the character designated in which the operation thereof is not dependent upon eccentrics and the like, thereby not only reducing the wear of the apparatus, but also assuring that the apparatus is in satisfactory working order at all times.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an automatic stop for carding apparatus of the character designated which shall be simple of construction, economical of manufacture and which may be readily installed on conventional type carding apparatus.

As is well known in the art to which my invention relates, automatic stop means for cards has heretofore consisted of electrically operated apparatus. In addition to the excessive wiring around the card, transformers, solenoids, switches and the like are usually required. Such apparatus has proved to be unsatisfactory due to the fact that it is difficult to keep carding apparatus clean. Also, where electrical solenoids are employed, they usually must start off under excessive loads due to the limited amount of movement of the armatures thereof. This not only necessitates the replacement of solenoids, switches and the like, but also causes the apparatus to remain out of operation a substantial amount of time. Furthermore, electrical wires, switches and the like around carding apparatus is unsafe since it produces a fire hazard and electrical shock hazard to those working on and around cards. In accordance with my invention, I provide an automatic stop for carding apparatus which is mechanically actuated and trouble free in operation due to the fact that the only part of my improved apparatus which operates continuously while the card is in operation is a detent or pin carried by a rotary member. Accordingly, there is substantially no wear of the bearing surfaces of my improved apparatus whereby the apparatus will last the life of the card with a minimum of maintenance.

In view of the fact that it is very expensive to replace the metallic clothing on carding apparatus, it is very desirable to prevent damage to the clothing by stopping operation of the carding apparatus immediately upon interruption of the flow of material therethrough. That is, by stopping operation of the carding apparatus immediately upon an interruption of flow of materials, the fibers do not wrap around the doffer and main cylinder to damage the metallic clothing thereon.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly broken away, showing my improved apparatus associated with a rotary element of the card, the calender rolls and the coiler;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, showing the doffer gear and an intermediate gear for imparting rotary motion to the rotary element shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmental view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, the sliver brace being omitted;

FIG. 4 is a fragmental view taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the position of the apparatus after the card has been stopped;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view showing the hook portion of my apparatus in contact with the detent whereby the apparatus is actuated upon rotation of the detent;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing a modified form of my invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view taken generally along the line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing another form of my invention;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view showing another form of my invention;

FIG. 11 is an isometric view showing a modified form of lock member;

FIGS. 12, 13, 14 and 15 are diagrammatic views showing the various positions of a modified form of self-releasing lock; and

FIG. 16 is a fragmental view taken generally along the line 16-46 of FIG. 12.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention, I show the sliver S as passing from a pair of calender rolls 10 to the rolls of a coiler indicated generally at 11. The card feeding and delivery members are driven by a production gear 12 which is carried by a drop lever 13. As shown in FIG. 2, the production gear 12 meshes with a dotfer gear'14 whereby rotary motion is imparted to the dofiier cylinder in a manner well understood in the art. The dofi'er gear 14 meshes with an intermediate gear 16 which in turn meshes with a gear 17.

The drop lever 13 is pivotally connected adjacent one end thereof to the card frame by a suitable pivot pin 18. Mounted adjacent the other end of the drop lever on a pivot pin 21 is a manually actuated trigger 19 which engages the end of the drop lever 13 whereby upon lifting the trigger 19, the product-ion gear 12 moves out of mesh with the dotfe-r gear 14, thereby stopping the card feeding and delivery members.

The apparatus described hereinabove is conventional type apparatus well known in the art. In accordance with my invention, I provide an elongated pivot pin 21 for the trigger 19 and mount one end of a trigger actuating arm 22 rigidly thereon whereby upon movement of the trigger actuating arm 22, the trigger 19 is also actuated. Pivotally connected to the other end of the trigger actuating arm 22 by a pivot pin 23 is the lower end of a hook carrying member 24. Preferably, the hook carrying member 24 is provided with a rod-like upper portion 26 which is threaded as at 27 for engagement with a suitable threaded opening in a clevis member 28, whereby the effective length of the hook-carrying-member 24 may FIG. 6. The hook-carrying member 24 is urged in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, about its pivot pin 23 by a counterweight 36 which i sadwhen the hook is in its rearmost position, as shown in movement of the sliver5,jwhereby it partially surrounds the sliver. The sliver guide is attached to the end portion 44 by suitable means, such as a set screw 52.

, Mounted on the stemof the coiler 11 by suitable means and having portionsextending above and below the outturned end 44 of the crank arm 43 is a sliver brace 53 which is adapted to engage the sliver at opposite sides of'the sliver guide 49 wherebyv the sliveris retained between the sliver brace '53 and the sliver guide 49. The sliver brace 53 is necessary where a weak or light sliver. is being run and where there .is slack tension bejustably mounted on an outwardly projecting rod 37 carried by the clevis member 28. The adjustment between the counterweight and the rod 37 may be made by providing a threaded connection between the counter-' weight and the rod. As shown in FIG. 6, the hook 29 engages'the, detent 34 while the detent is traveling in a generally horizontal direction whereby the hook-carrying member 24 is lifted in a generally vertical direction'with the movement beginning at'a low velocity and accelerating uniformly in a manner to raise easily theLtrigger actuating member 22 and the trigger. 19 to thus disengage the production gear 12 from the dolfer gear 14.

To hold the hook carrying member 24' in its forwardmost position, as shown in FIG. 2, 'while the card is in operation with: the sliver S passing from the calender rolls to the coiler, I provide an actuating member 38 which comprises an elongated horizontal roddike section 39 having an outwardly projecting crank arm 41' which terminates in a horizontally extending biforked section 42 adapted for one fork thereof to engage the hook carrying member 24 while the card is in operation, as shown in FIG. 2. The biforked sections are spaced from each other, as shown, whereby ample clearance is provided to prevent the actuating member 38 from travelgated rod 39 is an outwardly projecting crank arm 43hav1' ing its upper end bent as at 44 whereby it is disposed to engage the sliver S, as shown.

Mounted on the elongated rod 39 and extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom, as shown in FIGS.

balances the actuating member 38'whereby the end 44 of the crank arm 43 bears lightly against the sliver S, Preferably, the counterweight 46 is threadedly connected to the arm 45 whereby the position of thecounterweight may be varied. If desired, a generally horizontal counterweight 46 may be mounted on theelongated rod 39, as shown in FIG. 6. I

To lock the upstanding crank arm 43 in operating position while the card is placed in operation, I provide an elongated lock member 47 having a laterally projecting end portion 48 which is adapted to engage the crank arm 43 whereby it is" held in the same position as if a sliver were passing between the calender rolls '10 and the coiler 11. That is, the lock member 47 eliminates the necessity of holding the crank arm 43 in this upper position manually until the apparatus is placed in operation or placed back in operation after being stopped due to an interruption in the sliver.

Surrounding the end 44 of the crank arm 43 is a sliver guide 49 which is provided with a convex inner surface tween the calender rolls and the coiler rolls- The silver brace permits the stop motion apparatus tobe set immediately after piecing in thegsliver due to .the fact that it is not necessary to wait unit all of the slack is taken out of the sliver. In actual practice, I find that it is not essential toernploythesliver guide or the sliver brace on normally carded cotton. However, with certain fibers, such as wool and synthetic fibers, these elements .are necessary. I

From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved apparatus will be readily understood. The effective height of the hook-carrying member 24 is adjustedwhereby the hook 29 passes over the detent or pin 34 with a slight clearance while the detent is in the position shown in FIG. 6 which is approximately a 6:30 oclock position. The stop bracket 31 is then adjusted whereby the hook 29 engages theback stop 33 when it is in position to engage the detent 34', as shown in FIG 6.

With the sliver guide 49- in contact with the sliver, the

' crank end 42 is so positioned that it holds the hook ing with the hook member'24 after engagement with 50 1 and 6, is an arm 45 carrying a counterweight 46 which 7 the actuating member 38 and the hook carrying member 7 24' are balanced to rotate easily when the stop mechanism is placed in operation. 7

As long as the carding apparatus is operating properly with the sliver S passing continuously from the calender rolls 10 to the coiler 11, the sliver guide 49 engages the'sliver whereby the crank arm 43 is held in the solid line position shown in FIGS. 1 and- 2. That is, in the normal running ofthe sliver S at a predetermined range of fiber weight per unit length, the sliver has sufiicient resistance to lateral deflection that it passes in a predetermined path from the calender rolls 10 to the coiler 11. However, upon interruption of the normal running of the sliver at this predetermined range of fiber weight per unit length, such as occurs when the sliver breaks or becomes too heavy, the lateral resistance of the intermediate portion of the sliver decrease whereby it moves laterally out of and no longer follows the predetermined path between the calender rolls and the coiler. Also, when the weight of the sliver guide causes the intermediate portion of the sliver to move laterally out of-the predetermined path. It will thus be seen that, upon interrupting the normal running of the sliver S from the calender rolls 10 to the coiler 11, the upper end 44 of the crank arm 43 is released whereby it moves in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis of i the calender rolls'10 to the solid line position shown in FIG. 5., That is, the actuating member 38 rotatesabout an axis parallel to the axis of the, calender rolls 10. .Movement of the crank arm 43 in this direction causes the crank arm 41 and its outwardly projecting end'42 to move in the opposite direction or. toward the feed end, of the carding apparatus, thus moving out of engagement with the hookcarrying member 24 whereby the book 29 is urged by the counterweight 36 .in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS, about its pivot pin 23. Forward movement of the hook carrying member'24 is limited by the back stop member 33. As the detent 34 rotates in the direction of the arrow, it engages the hook 29, as shown in FIG. 6, whereby upon continued rotation of the detent 34, the hook carrying member 24 and the trigger actuating member 22, together with the trigger are all lifted to release or lower the drop lever 13 to the position shown in FIG. 5. In this position, the production gear 12 continues to rotate but does not impart rotary motion to the doifer gear 14 and the remaining feeding and delivery parts of the carding apparatus. To start the apparatus back into operation before piecing up the sliver, the crank arm 43 is rotated to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 5 whereupon'the crank arm 41 carrying the outwardly projecting end portion 42 moves in the opposite direction to force the hook carrying member 24 against the front stop member 32. In this position, the hook 29 is out of engagement with the detent 34 whereby the card feeding and delivery apparatus is free to operate and the sliver may be pieced up. To maintain the upstanding crank arm 43 in the proper operating position until the card is back in operation, the lock member 47 is pivoted from a vertical position shown in FIG. 1 to a horizontal position whereby the laterally projecting portion 48 thereof engages the crank arm 43 to thus hold it' in proper position until the sliver again engages the sliver guide 49 to retain the actuating member 38 in proper operating position. The lock member 47 is then moved back to the vertical position whereby the apparatus is again ready to stop operation of the card feeding and delivery apparatus upon interruption of the sliver.

My improved apparatus prevents improper piecing of the ends of laps by operators at the feed roll of the card and also guards against heavy and light places in laps which will result in heavy and light places in the sliver produced by the card. That is, when a heavy place is fed under the feed roll, caused either by too much overlap when the operator pieces in a new lap or by a malfunction of preparatory processes, there is a frictional retardation of the movement of the sliver through the coiler trumpet. This reduces the tension on the sliver between the calender rolls and the coiler rolls. When a heavy place in the sliver becomes excessive, the tension on the sliver between these two points will be reduced to an extent that the sliver becomes slack whereby the automatic stop will move into action and stop the feed and delivery means for the card. The sensitivity of the stop motion with regard to this objective is easily controlled by reducing the reamed inside diameter ofthe coiler and calender trumpets, by moving the counterweights attached to rod 39 so that more pressure is applied to the. sliver guide 49, and by reducing the ratio of surface speeds of the coiler roll over the calender rolls. Any or all of these adjustments will increase the sensitivity of the automatic stop. Conversely, adjustments in an opposite manner as just described will decrease the sensitivity of the automatic stop in guarding against heavy places in sliver.

If thin places in sliver are being produced, which might occur because of the operator piecing the ends of laps too thinly or by malfunction of preparatory machinery or by split laps, the automatic stop will be placed into operation because the reduced strength of the sliver will allow the crank arm 43 to rotate forward due to the sliver guide overcoming the resistance of the sliver. The sensitivity of the automatic stop with regard to this objective is principally controlled by adjustment of the counterweights attached to rod 39 whereby more pressure is applied to the sliver as it is running between the calender rolls 10 andtlie coiler rolls.

Referring 'now to FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings, I show a slightly modified form of my invention in which the actuating member 38 is provided with a relatively short crank arm 41 which is connected to an elongated rod 39 by a sleeve member 56. A suitable set screw 57 holds the arm 41 at selected angular positions relative to the elongated rod 39. Also, the arm 41 projects through a suitable opening in the sleeve 56 whereby the effective length of the arm 41 may be varied. The arm 41 is held at selected position relative to the sleeve 56 by a set screw 58. Projecting outwardly from the crank arm 41 is a horizontally extending portion 42 having biforked members at the outer end thereof which are disposed at opposite sides of a hook-like member indicated generally at 24*. Preferably, the crank arm 41 intersects the hook member 24 to form an included angle A which is slightly less than degrees. The crank arm 41 does not intersect the hook member 24 at right angles due to the fact that the frictional contact between the arm 41 and the hook member 24 would be too great. By providing a near 90 degree intersection of crank arm 41 to the hook member 24*, more counterweight can be added to the hook member as at 36 without adding more pressure against the sliver. That is, with the arrangement shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a greater weight can be employed to move the hook member 24 about its pivot point 23 and at the same time a minimum amount of this weight would be transferred to the sliver through the actuating member 38. The hook member 24 is operatively connected to a trigger actuating member 22 and a trigger 19 which engages the end of a drop lever 13 in the manner described hereinabove.

Mounted on the elongated rod 39 is a sleeve member 59 which is held in selected angular positions by a set screw 60. Secured to the sleeve member 59 is an arm 60 which carries a counterweight 65. The counterweight 65 is threadedly connected to the arm 60 whereby the counterweight may be moved axially to selected position along the arm 60*. Preferably the counterweight 65 is so positioned that it extends in a plane which is below a horizontal plane passing through the rod 39*. Accordingly, as the counterweight 65 is raised the eifect of the counterweight increases until it reaches the horizontal plane passing through rod 39 After reaching this point the effect of the counterweight 65 decreases. The angular position of thearm 60 and the counterweight 65 relative to the rod 39 is adjusted by rotating the sleeve 59 and then securing it in selected position by the set screw 60 whereby the desired sensitivity of the apparatus is obtained.

In FIG. 9, I show another modified form of my invention in which the actuating member 38 comprises an upstanding crank arm 43 having its upper end bent as at 44 to engage the sliver S. The crank arm 43 is provided with a laterally projecting shaft 61 which is mounted for rotation in a suitable bearing 62. Also, the crank arm 43 carries a counterweight 63 adjacent the lower end thereof which balances the crank arm 43 whereby it engages the sliver lightly and permits angular movement of the crank arm 43 about the shaft 61 in the event the sliver is interrupted or in the event heavy or light places occur in the sliver as described hereinabove.

The actuating member 38 is provided with a second crank arm 41 which is adapted to engage a hook member 24 which is identical in construction and operation to the hook members 24 and 24 described hereinabove. The crank arm 41 is connected to the shaft 61 of the crank arm 43 by a flexible coupling, such as a drive member having at least one universal joint therein or a flexible shaft as shown at 64 whereby upon rotation of the crank arm 43*, the crank arm 41 rotates to release the hook member 24 In all other respects, the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 9 is identical to the operation of the apparatus described hereinabove. By providing a flexible shaft 61, the shaft is free to rotate even though it passes around various parts of the carding apparatus.

While I prefer to eliminate all electrical circuits around the card, my improved apparatus might also be actuated by electrical means, if desired. In FIG. 10 of the drawings, I show an upstanding hook member 24 which is identical in construction and operation to the hook members described hereinabove. The hook member 24 is held in the inoperative position, or in a position out of engagement with a detent 34 carried by the gear 17, by

69. The switch 6 7 is actuated by asuitable-element 71 which bears against the sliver SWhereby'upon interruption of the sliver S or upon the appearance of heavy or light places in the sliver, the switch is energized.

Referring now to FIG. 11 of the 'drawings,'I show a modified form of lock member indicated generally at'47 The lock member 47 is mounted for free pivotal movement on a coiler 11 by a suitable pivot pin 72. Alaterally projecting end portion 48 is provided on the lock member 47 in position to engage the'crank arm 43 of an actuating member, 38 whereby the crank arm is held in the same position asif a sliver'were passing between the 7 calendar rolls and the coiler 11.. A stop member 73 is mounted on the crank arm 43 in position to support the laterally projecting portion 48 of the lock member whereby the lock member is retained in this position until the sliver becomes taut. After the sliverbecomes taut, the

crank arm 43 is urged by the sliver towardthe dotted'line position shown in FIG. 11 whereby the stop member 73 moves out of engagement with the laterally projecting portion 43 and thereby permits the lock member 47 to move to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 11. That is to say, when the lock member 47 is in the solidfline position shown in FIG. ll, it is in the self-releasing position and when the lock member is in the dotted line position it is in the operating position. By providing the selfreleasing lock member 47 the operator can continue with his other duties around the card while the slack is re moved from the sliver due to the normal operation of the .card. After the slack has been removediand the sliver becomes taut, the crankarm 43 is moved by the sliver to the dotted line position, thus releasing the lock member 47 for movement to the dotted line position.

In FIGS. 12-16, I show another modified form of lock 'member indicated generally at 47. The actuating member. indicated generally at 38 is provided with a rod-like section 39 which is adapted to rotate in suitable bearings in the same manner as the rod-like member 39 described hereinabove. like section 39 is an outwardly projecting arm section 74 which in turn is formed integrally'witha forwardly extending arm section 76. Formed integrally with the arm section 76 is a member 77 which extends generally parallel to the rod-like section 39 Formed integrally with the end of the member 77 is an upstanding crank arm 43:!

which is bent as at 44 to provide a sliver engaging mem- 7 her as described hereinabove. m g The lock member 47 partially surrounds a stationary support member 78 which may be in the form of a'rod, tube or the like. The stationary support member 78 is mounted on a stationary part of the card frame by any suitable means, not shown. As shown in FIGS. 12-15, the lock member 47 is provided with arms 79 and 81 having hook members 82 and 83, respectively, which are disposed to engage the member 77.

In operation, the operatorfirst locks the member 77 in the uppermost hook member 82, as shown in FIG. 12

and then pieces up the sliver in the usualrnanner. After the sliver has beenpieced up, the member 77 is removed from the hook 82 and positionedin the hook 83, asshown in FIG. 13, whereby the arm 43 is held out of engage ment with the slack sliver. S." That is, at this time, the sliver S is too slackto retain the crank arm 43 in the operating position. The operatorthen continues about his duties without having to come back and release the lock member 47 I When the sliver S becomes taut, asv

shown in FIG. 14, the lock member 47 'releases itself due to the fact that the taut sliver moves the member 77 out of engagement with the hook 83. The lock mem- Formed integrally with theirod her .474 is mountedfor free rotation about the support member '78 whereby' upon being released from the member 77, the lock member rotates in a counterclockwise direction whereby both arms 79' and 81 together with their hook members '82 and 83 depend'in a generally vertical direction, as shown in FIG. 15. With the'lock member 47 in the position shown in FIG. 15,'the actuating member 38 is freeto operate as describedhereinabove to stop the c'arding'operation when the sliver becomes interrupted or otherwise fails to'support the crank arm From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised I an improved apparatus for stopping the card feeding and delivery means immediatelyupon interruption of its sliver and when heavy or light places occur in the sliver produced by the card. By providing stop means which is mechanically actuated, there is no necessity of providing complicated wiring, circuits,y transformers, solenoids, switches and the like on the carding apparatus. Also,

byproviding mechanically. actuated stop mechanism, which'remains completely out of operation until the stop mechanism is set in action, I reduce to a minimum the wear 'on my improved apparatus and eliminate the neces'-.

' sityof providing complicated bearing surfaces. Furthermore, by stopping the operation of the card feeding and delivery members immediately upon interruptionof the While I have shown and described the detent 34 as being carried by therotary element 17 which is in the form of a gear, it willbe apparent that the detent 34 could be'mountedon other rotary elements of the carding apparatus whereby the hook member 29 would engage the. same to actuate the trigger release member 22.

, While ,I have described my improved apparatus as stopping the carding operation upon-interruption of the running. of its sliver, .itwill be understood that throughout the, specification and c'laimssuch description is intended to include stoping the carding operation when heavy or light places occur in the sliver.

a While I have shown my inventionin. several forms, it will be .obvious to those skilled in the-art that it is not :so limited but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically setforth'in the appended claims. i

I I What I claimisi. 1.- In apparatus for stopping the-carding operation of a card upon interruption of thenorm al running of its sliver in a predetermined path between its calender rolls and coiler, said .card'having a movable member mounted on a fixed axis and-disposed to engage a driving element of the card with a driven element thereof upon movement of said movable member in one direction whereby the card feed andldelivery means are driven and disposed to disengage said drivingelement and said driven element upon movement in the other direction whereby the carding operation is, stopped, the improvement which comprises;

(a) ajhook carrying member operatively connected to saidmova'ble member and having a hook disposed to move from an inoperativeposition to an operative position,

;(b) a detent carried by a rotatable element of the card in position to engage said hook when said hook is in said operative position and disposed to be out of engagem-ent with said book when said hook is moved to said inoperative posit-ion,

(c) actuating means mounted imposition for a first portion thereof tomove in a plane generally perpen dicular to the axisof the calender rolls and engage said hook carrying member, and with another portion thereof disposed to move in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis of the calender rolls and engage said sliver at a sensitive position between and spaced from the calender rolls and the coiler and move laterally in response to a decrease in resistance to lateral deflection of the sliver whereby the sliver moves out of said predetermined path between said calender rolls and the coiler, to thereby retain said hook in said inoperative position by said first portion -of the actuating means while the sliver is running normally in said predetermined path and to release said hook upon interruption of the normal running of the sliver in said predetermined path, and

(d) means to move said hook to said operative position upon interruption of the normal running of the sliver in said predetermined path and release of said hook carrying member by said first portion of the actuating means whereby said detent engages said hook and moves said movable member in said other direction to stop the carding operation.

2. Apparatus for stopping the carding operation of a card as defined in claim 1 in which the hook carrying member is operatively connected to the movable member by means comprising an arm pivotally connected adjacent one end to said hook carrying member and operatively connected adjacent its other end to said movable member.

3..Appar-atus for stopping the carding operation of a card as defined in claim 1 in which the hook carrying member comprises an elongated member pivotally connected at one end to said movable member and having a hook portion at the other end thereof.

tive to the detent whereby the hook passes over the detent with a slight clearance prior to engagement of the detent with the hook.

7. Apparatus for stopping the carding operation of a card as defined in claim, 1 in which said another portion of the actuating means comprises an elongated member having an outwardly projecting crank arm disposed to engage the sliver and said first portion comprises an outwardly projecting crank arm disposed to engage said hook carrying member whereby said hook is held out'of engagement with said detent while said sliver is running normally in said predetermined path and upon interruption of the normal running of the sliver in said predetermined path said hook is released tor movement into engagement with said detent.

8. Apparatus for stopping the car-ding operation of a card as defined in claim 7 in which a counterweight is carried by the elongated member of said another portion to urge its outwardly projecting crank arm lightly against the sliver.

9. Apparatus for stopping the carding operation of a card as defined in claim 7 in which -a sliver engaging brace member is mounted adjacent the end of said outwardly propecting arm of said another portion in position to contact the sliver at opposite sides of said outwardly projecting arm of said another portion whereby the sliver is adapted to pass between said sliver engaging brace memher and the side of said outwardly projecting arm of said another portion,

10. Apparatus for stopping the carding operation of a card as defined in claim 7 in which a sliver guide having a convex contact surface as viewed in the direction of movement of the sliver is 10 V attached to the crank arm of said another portion in position to contact the sliver.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which a lock member is mounted for pivotal movement adjacent said outwardly projecting arm of said another portion in position to restrain movement thereof in one direction whereby said outwardly projecting arm of said first portion holds said hook carrying member and the hook carried thereby out of engagement with said detent.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which a releasable lock member is mounted adjacent said actuating means in position to engage a portion thereof and retain said actuating means in said inoperative position until the sliver is in position to retain said actuating means in said inoperative position.

'13. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the detent engages said hock as the detent begins its movement into the confines of said hook.

14. Apparatus for stopping the carding operation of a card as defined in claim 1 in which a counterweight is carried by the hook carrying member to urge the hook toward said detent upon release of said hook carrying member.

15. Apparatus for stopping the carding operation of a card as defined in claim 1 in which said first portion of the actuating means has biforked sections disposed at opposite sides of said hook in position for one section to engage the hook carrying member upon interruption of the normal running of the sliver in said predetermined path, whereby initial inertia is provided to start movement of said hook carrying member toward said detent.

16. Apparatus for stopping the carding operation of a card as defined in claim 1 in which said first portion of the actuating means is connected to said another portion of the actuating means by a flexible coupling.

17. Apparatus for stopping the carding operation of a card as defined in claim 1 in which the first portion of the actuating means comprises a movable element of an electrical solenoid, said solenoid being operatively connected to a switch element, and said another portion of the actuating means comprises a sliver engaging member operatively connected to said switch element whereby upon interruption of the normal running of the sliver in said predetermined path said switch is actuated.

18. In apparatus for stopping the carding operation of a card upon interruption of the normal running of its sliver in a predetermined path between its calender rolls and coiler, said card having a movable member mounted on a fixed axis and disposed to engage a driving element of the card with a driven element thereof upon movement of said movable member in one direction whereby the card feed and delivery means are driven and disposed to disengage said driving element and said driven element upon movement in the other direction whereby thecarding operation is stopped, the improvement which comprises:

(a) a hook carrying member operatively connected to said movable member and having a hook disposed to move from an inoperable position to an operable position,

(b) a detent carried by a rotatable element of the card in position to engage said hook when said hook is in said operable position and disposed to be out of engagement with said hook when said hook is moved to said inoperable position,

(0) means urging said hook toward said operable position, and

(d) actuating means rotatable about an axis parallel to the axis of the calender rolls and mounted in position for a first port-ion thereof to engage said hook carrying member, and with another portion thereof disposed to engage said sliver at a sensitive position between and spaced from the calender rolls and the coiler and move laterally in response to a decrease in resistance to lateral deflection of the sliver whereby '1 1. the sliver movesout of said predetermined path between sa-id calender rolls and the coiler, to retain said A hookin said inoperable position while the sliver is running normally in said predetermined path and to release the hook for movement to said operable position upo'ninterruption of the normal running of the sliver in said predetermined path whereby saidde'tent engages said hook and moves saidmovable member in said other direction to stop the carding operation.

19. Inapparatus for stopping the carding operation of a card upon interruption of the normal running of its I sliver from thecard and normallymainta'ining a predeterminin'g tension-therein, a'knock-olf lever, a driving pinion carried by said knock-off lever; :a series of intermeshing drive gears adapted to bedrive'n by said pinion gear and operativelyiconnected; to said sliver-delivering means to cause the sliver tobedeliver'ed from the card, and cam b means associatedwith said knockoff, lever and being opsliver in a predetermined path between its calender rolls and coi-ler, said card having a movable member mounted on a fixed axis and disposed to engage a driving element of the card with a driven element thereof uponmovernent of said movable member in one direction whereby'the card feed and delivery means aredriven and disposed to disengage said driving element and said driveniel'emen-t upon movement in the other direction whereby the carding operation is stopped, the improvement whichcomprises: I (a) an actuating member operatively connectedito said movable member and disposed to move from an inoperative position to an operative position, (b) a detent carried by a rotatable element of the card in position to engage said actuating member when said actuating member is insaidoperative position A and disposed to be out of engagement with. said actuating member when said actuating member is moved to said inoperative position,

(c) actuating means rotatable about an axis parallel .to

the axis of the calender rolls and mounted in position for a first portion thereof to engage said actuating member, and with another portion thereof dis- I posed to engage saidrsliver at a sensitive position between and spaced from the calender rolls and the coiler and move laterally in response to a decrease in resistance to lateral deflection of the sliver whereby the sliver moves out of said predetermined path between said calenderrolls and the coiler; to thereby retain said actuating member in said inoperative position by said first portion of the actuating means while the sliver is running normally in said predetermined path and to release said actuating member upon interruption of the normal running of the sliver'in said predetermined path, and

(d) means to movetsaid actuating member to said op- I erative position upon interruption of the normal running ofithe sliver in said predetermined path and release of said actuating member by said first portion of the actuating means whereby said detent engages said actuating member and moves said movable member in said other direction to stop the carding operation. a

20. In a carding machine adapted to form a'sliver from fibers fed thereto andhaving means for delivering the arable to move the knocks-01f lever to a first position to move said-pinion gearinto driving engagement with said series of drive gears todeli'ver sliver from the card and at timesto move said knockoff lever to'a second position to move said'piniongear outof driving engagement with said series of gears to stop deliveryof thefsl-iver from the card; the combination therewith'of .a mechanicalstop motionfoomprising ("1) movable detector ineans'positioned to engage the sliver being delivered whom the card and'norrnally being held in a first position by the tensioned sliver and movable to a second position in response to a reduction of the tension in the, sliver'below the predeteri mined-value, and h 5 (2) actuator meansinterposed between said detector means and saidcam means and having its position controlled by said detectormeans and being directly -rnovd by rotation of one gear ofs'aid series of gears said second position to stop the delivery of the sliver from the card, said actuator means including a) faller means positioned adjacent'said series of driv gears and being normally maintained in a firstposition by said detector means, said faller means being movable to'asecond position in'respouse to movement of said detector means to said second position, a

'(b) means carried by one of the gears of said series of drive gears for driving engagement of said taller means when in said second position, and

(c) operator means operable by said faller means 7 in response to-engagement of said faller means lby said gear carried means to actuate said earn 3 meansand move said knock-off lever to said Secondposition.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS DONALDIWI PARKER, Primary Examiner.

in response to movementof said detector means to 

1. IN APPARATUS FOR STOPPING THE CARDING OPERATION OF A CARD UPON INTERRUPTION OF THE NORMAL RUNNING OF ITS SLIVER IN A PREDETERMINED PATH BETWEEN ITS CALENDER ROLLS AND COILER, SAID CARD HAVING A MOVABLE MEMBER MOUNTED ON A FIXED AXIS AND DISPOSED TO ENGAGE A DRIVING ELEMENT OF THE CARD WITH A DRIVEN ELEMENT THEREOF UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID MOVABLE MEMBER IN ONE DIRECTION WHEREBY THE CARD FEED AND DELIVERY MEANS ARE DRIVEN AND DISPOSED TO DISENGAGE SAID DRIVING ELEMENT AND SAID DRIVEN ELEMENT UPON MOVEMENT IN THE OTHER DIRECTION WHEREBY THE CARDING OPERATION IS STOPPED, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES: (A) A HOOK CARRYING MEMBER OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID MOVABLE MEMBER AND HAVING A HOOK DISPOSED TO MOVE FROM AN INOPERATIVE POSITION TO AN OPERATIVE POSITION, (B) A DETENT CARRIED BY A ROTATABLE ELEMENT OF THE CARD IN POSITION TO ENGAGE SAID HOOK WHEN SAID HOOK IS IN SAID OPERATIVE POSITION AND DISPOSED TO BE OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID HOOK WHEN SAID HOOK IS MOVED TO SAID INOPERATIVE POSITION, (C) ACTUATING MEANS MOUNTED IN POSITION FOR A FIRST PORTION THEREOF TO MOVE IN A PLANE GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF THE CALENDER ROLLS AND ENGAGE SAID HOOK CARRYING MEMBER, AND WITH ANOTHER PORTION THEREOF DISPOSED TO MOVED IN A PLANE GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF THE CALENDER ROLLS AND ENGAGE SAID SLIVER AT A SENSITIVE POSITION BETWEEN SAID SPACED FROM THE CALENDER ROLLS AND THE COILER AND MOVE LATERALLY IN RESPONSE TO A DECREASE IN RESISTANCE TO LATERAL DEFLECTION OF THE SLIVER WHEREBY THE SLIVER MOVES OUT OF SAID PREDETERMINED PATH BETWEEN SAID CALENDER ROLLS AND THE COILER, TO THEREBY RETAIN SAID HOOK IN SAID INOPERATIVE POSITION BY SAID FIRST PORTION OF THE ACTUATING MEANS WHILE THE SLIVER IS RUNNING NORMALLY IN SAID PREDETERMINED PATH AND TO RELEASE SAID HOOK UPON INTERRUPTION OF THE NORMAL RUNNING OF THE SLIVER IN SAID PREDETERMINED PATH, AND (D) MEANS TO MOVE SAID HOOK TO SAID OPERATIVE POSITION UPON INTERRUPTION OF THE NORMAL RUNNING OF THE SLIVER IN SAID PREDETERMINED PATH AND RELEASE OF SAID HOOK CARRYING MEMBER BY SAID FIRST PORTION OF THE ACTUATING MEANS WHEREBY SAID DETENT ENGAGES SAID HOOK AND MOVES SAID MOVABLE MEMBER IN SAID OTHER DIRECTION TO STOP THE CARDING OPERATION. 